Readers' comments

All this India bashing ignores the quintessential, Nepal's location is strategic, simply too important for India to ignore.

Prachanda and his Maoists hope to politicize the Nepali armed forces by rehabilitating indoctrinated Maoist cadre. This will end the current political neutrality of the Nepali armed forces. Politicized armed forces would sound the death knell of democracy in Nepal. India can not afford to have such a Maoist Nepal. Especially, with Maoist insurgency gaining ground in India, and another set of capitalist Maoists emerging as an expansionist power across the border.

Security challenge emerging from Nepal's internal affairs have such enormous strategic ramifications for India that Nepal's internal politics is no more a simple domestic affair. Nepali politics has serious international ramifications so it's a serious international issue and hence it attracts international and Indian attention.

In such a scenario when India's internal and external security environment depends on Nepal's internal politics, the argument of interference in Nepal's internal affairs is mere legal technicality. No country will allow the notion of sovereignty to stand in the way of its security and India is no exception.

To achieve the security objectives, India has options on two extremes viz a viz Nepal.

At One end is the "democratic method", to simply rely on the good will and friendship of the Nepali people and government and hope for the best. However, anti-India rhetoric in Nepal is strong, hence, Indian security can not depend on hope and the ups and downs of popularity contests in Nepal.

This pushes India towards the other extreme, that is ensuring direct influence through the economic and political levers. The price of this method is to become a bit unpopular in Nepal, however this option is effective and reliable. It's probably better to be unpopular and secure than being popular and threatened.

So we will see a lot of India bashing from Nepal, but India will have to remain engaged in Nepal as long as Nepal's internal dynamic has international ramifications. While India can not change her actions in Nepal, it surely can change the image it projects.

Thank you Economist for such a balanced and accurate analysis.It should have elaborated on India's meddling into internal affairs of Nepali politics as well.Indians have nurtured a habit of cultivating hatred for themselves in their neighborhood.By cobbling up a gang of loser and corrupt people against the Maoists, India has further helped the Maoist to advance its rhetoric against India.
Now Maoists' protest here is aimed not only against this corrupt government but also against the Indian design to dictate the political equation in this small landlocked country.But for commoners like us tattering economy,fragile politics and a wicked neighbor like India make life much more difficult.We simply wonder if we will ever be able to get out of this morass towards development,peace and stability.

agree with others about wicked role India plays in the neighbourhood. it's not only insensitivity of officials in New Delhi like Mr Chidambaram who takes unilaterally decisions (like ban of reentry of foreigners for two months without thinking that Bhutan, Nepal or Sri Lanka depend on tourist traffic through India) but also of poor quality of Indian diplomats serving in these countries. They behave in such overbearing condencsending manner, not shy of exhibiting full range of corrupt and inept qualities that it's hardly surprising India is not loved anywhere in the neighbourhood.

however the one person I would blame as well - Kautiliya, his wicked Mandala concept is firmly ingrained in the minds of Indian babudom. According to Mandala concept all neighbours are real or potential enemies (unlike second ring for example Russia), that's why India has unresolved border issues with all neighbouring countries. India helped to liberate Bangladesh yet still files of border disputes gather dust in Foreign Affairs ministry in Delhi. These bureaucrats should be immediately sacked for lack of any desire to resolve problems but unfortunately (no matter who keeps power BJP or Congress) these babus's work is not assessed at all. Such a pity for a would-be great country. They ruined her reputation.

“Nepal has no economy, and about half of the money the Nepalese do have is foreign aid. Most of the other half appears to be the proceeds of crime from drug-smuggling and the usual side-benefits. The continuing survival of Nepal as a nation and independent people is totally dependent on the charity of India. The Nepalese have never -- never in 3,000 years -- exhibited any sign of the capacity to work hard,…...(from this poster Home412AD wrote: May 13th 2010 12:52 GMT) ” ???
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Such sick and derogatory comments typical of an Indian commentator on this forum is inexcusable insult to all Nepalese people, and a reflection of the unhealthy state of mind of India toward Nepal in general.

Is anyone else noticing a sharp decline in commenters accross articles each week? All the commenters are centered on Greek Debt and Arizona like everyone has forgot that there are other things happening in the rest of the world.

Is it just me or does it seem like the entire world has given up on talking to each other and is bracing itself for a fight?

In all of these impasse and turmoil, we may have to take into account the role of India and UNMIN. The ball cannot be just laid in the courts of these Nepali players --Maoists, UML, and the NC. The problems between the three parties is that they do not trust each other, and so the two external forces/"referees" --India and UNMIN-- must exercise their impartial judgment without any vested interest and/or partisan prejudices. Unnecessary interventions and/or shirking of responsibility and silence can both have devastating effect on the internal dynamics of Nepali politics. Creating a level playing field and transparency is what we need in Nepal. The idea of using the streets to bring about change, the choice of convenience for all parties involved --on and off, or the behind the scene manipulative schemes should all be avoided at all cost. The matter of change and debate should be brought to the CA assembly for discussions as early as possible. In addition to India and UNMIN, the highly revered referees of our society the human right and the civil society champions, the opinion leaders from academia should speak. As the business community initiated, other players of the society should take their responsibilities as well.

“Certainly, India has had enough meddling in Nepalese politics, but it is our own fault that we have allowed it to happen so rampantly. Every government in Nepal seeks either blessing or approval from India, which only encourages Indians to meddle more.

Unless our political parties, and government included, have a clear principle on how to deal with India, the problem is not going to recede. I do not believe India will some day have no impact on Nepal, but such influence can be chanelled constructively.

Simply riling India for its influence leads Nepal to nowhere, but aggravates the problem. Understanding the geological position of Nepal and its overt reliance on India, Nepal should look to work with the Southern neighbor (which does not mean 'under' India).

Therefore, it is extremely important that every political parties have clear policies towards India, and stick to them. Begging to them when in Power (or to come in power) and echoing employing anti-India slogans when out of favor only gives India a larger ground to play in Nepal.”
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Very well said indeed.

But don’t hold your breath expecting India to exercise impartial judgment on this. I found this being true on my several trips to this beautiful place the great Nepali people called home.

How could that be possible, after Sikkim and Bhutan? India’s vested interest is Nepal, the whole Nepal and not but the whole Nepal, if it was ever allowed to have its ways.

Certainly, India has had enough meddling in Nepalese politics, but it is our own fault that we have allowed it to happen so rampantly. Every government in Nepal seeks either blessing or approval from India, which only encourages Indians to meddle more.
Unless our political parties, and government included, have a clear principle on how to deal with India, the problem is not going to recede. I do not believe India will some day have no impact on Nepal, but such influence can be chanelled constructively.
Simply riling India for its influence leads Nepal to nowhere, but aggravates the problem. Understanding the geological position of Nepal and its overt reliance on India, Nepal should look to work with the Southern neighbor (which does not mean 'under' India).
Therefore, it is extremely important that every political parties have clear policies towards India, and stick to them. Begging to them when in Power (or to come in power) and echoing employing anti-India slogans when out of favor only gives India a larger ground to play in Nepal.

Maoists le Government was sacked by Prseident who had strong backing from India. One thing India does not like to see any of it's neighbours hve political stability and this keeps the opportunity of their dictation to the ruling governments. Look around the neighbours of India, its the same scenerio everywhere. Instable or subservient governments in neighbouring countries are strategic requirements of India.

Prachanda is a crook, how have his supporters not heard of the things he has said in privately recorded conversations about doing it for the power and money? The Maoist campaign is an irresponsible populist campaign. Food prices have risen dramatically in the past week and violent crimes are going unreported. Their nationwide bandh is going to hurt everyone.

Suniye writes
Nepal has three options. a) Align with India but friendly with China,b) Align with China but friendly with India,c) Align with no one but friendly with both. Option C is economically not viable and requires a very high statesmanship, a level to which Nepal polity has not evolved to. Option A or B primarily depend upon past cultural ties, natural leaning of geography and ease of economic flow which must be natural if it has to last. If in the centuries past Nepal leaned towards India , it was not master statesmanship of bye gone kings that made it happen. It was due to above mentioned factors which made it happen. When India intervenes in Nepalee politics it only reminds Nepal of this natural pull. A River cannot flow backward, much as Maoist desire. They are being uncaring of their people. Instead they should pitch in constructively and participate in the governance but not subvert it

I'm sure it's very entertaining and amusing for some people with nothing better to do in life than watch Nepal try and figure out how to be a country, just as I'm sure it was very entertaining and amusing when the Aztecs, Mayans, and Inca were trying to figure out how to run a civilization. Sadly, for people who do have a life, the entertainment doesn't last long.

Nepal has no economy, and about half of the money the Nepalese do have is foreign aid. Most of the other half appears to be the proceeds of crime from drug-smuggling and the usual side-benefits. The continuing survival of Nepal as a nation and independent people is totally dependent on the charity of India. The Nepalese have never -- never in 3,000 years -- exhibited any sign of the capacity to work hard, or make any effort to improve their lot above the level of subsistence farmers and woodcutters, they are clearly incapable of anything more energetic than complaining and shoving each other around today, and the only sensible conslusion is that the country and the region would be vastly improved if they would only kill each other off once and for all.